[Reduction of complete inpatient treatment by a system of partial hospitalization, ambulatory and complementary services].

This study aimed at investigating whether psychiatric care and especially partial hospitalisation programmes would achieve a reduction in time and cost of inpatient care. Frequency and duration of hospital treatments were studied in chronic psychotic patients (mean duration of illness = 8.7 years) before and after admission to a comprehensive community care system. The system includes partial hospitalisation programmes, out-patient care and various community services. Frequency and duration of hospital treatments were found to be lowered to less than 50%. However, since there were long periods of partial hospitalisation in addition to in-patient treatment, the remaining time of out-patient care was reduced. This result can be found mainly during the first year after admission and applies in particular to elderly and particularly chronic patients. In discussing the findings, treatment costs were also considered.